The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, which released on February 27, 2026, has witnessed a subdued response in parts of Kerala, with reports of low occupancy across multiple centres.
Several screenings were reportedly cancelled in cities such as Kochi, Thrissur, and Kozhikode, while a scheduled show was also called off at a theatre in Thiruvananthapuram. Members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) staged protests against the release of The Kerala Story 2, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled screening.
Demonstrations were held outside Cinepolis at Mall of Travancore in Thiruvananthapuram, where protesters raised slogans opposing the film, despite the Kerala High Court allowing its screening. Visuals of the protest were shared by ANI.
Amid criticism, actor Sumit Gahlawat said, “I don’t think that if the values a child receives at home or school are being overpowered by a two-hour movie, then the problem lies elsewhere; perhaps they were just looking for a reason or an excuse to act out.” Sumit further added, “If you find something good in a film, take it; if you find something bad, take it positively as a lesson of what not to do, but don’t let it impact you to this extent.”
About the movie: The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond is a 2026 Hindi-language drama directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. A sequel to The Kerala Story (2023), the film stars Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia, and Aishwarya Ojha and hit theatres on 28 February 2026 amid significant legal and political debate following its teaser and trailer release.
The film expands the narrative of its predecessor and follows the lives of several young women across different Indian states. The story explores themes related to personal relationships, alleged religious conversion, and societal pressures.